Heart of Texas CROP Hunger Walk Goes Virtual!

(Press Release) The leadership team for the Heart of Texas CROP Hunger Walk invites you to our virtual walk on Nov. 15!

Over the past 50 years, tens of thousands of walkers have raised more than $500 million through the annual CROP Hunger Walk. The Heart of Texas CROP Hunger Walk always raises around $2,500, making it one of the most successful fundraisers for a small community walk.

This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic and the need for social isolation, we are introducing a Virtual walk.

We know that it is crucial that we find new ways to engage our community to continue giving to Church World Service and Caritas of Waco, the two recipients of the walk’s funds. The current pandemic is creating an ever-increasing need for food and resources for our local agencies and around the world. Caritas, for instance, is serving more than twice as many families as it did before COVID-19 reached our community. 

The need is greater than ever. Now, more than ever, is the time to give.

This year the Heart of Texas CROP Hunger Walk and some 700 other communities nationwide are joining together in interfaith walks around the theme Ending hunger one step at a time. 

            Here are four ways to participate:

1. You can sign up online at https://www.crophungerwalk.org/wacotx and walk on November 15 in isolation or with your family. (Be sure to take photos and announce on social media that you are joining the walk! Go to https://www.facebook.com/HeartofTexasCROPHungerWalk and tag us!)
2. You can sign up online at https://www.crophungerwalk.org/wacotx and walk in spirit.
3. You can sponsor someone else who is walking in isolation.
4. You can video yourself walking before Walk Day and send us the video, which we will incorporate into our virtual presentation, set for 3:00 pm on Nov. 15.  (Videos are due by Oct. 31 to be included in the Nov. 15 presentation. Please email [email protected] for instructions.)

In doing any of these things, you will show your solidarity with the millions of neighbors around the world who must walk to live.  You will also show your solidarity with the millions served by local food pantries, food banks and meal sites in the United States and in our community.

The local beneficiary for the Heart of Texas walk is Caritas of Waco. Founded in 1967, it is a community-wide agency with interfaith support. Located at the corner of 15th & Mary in downtown Waco, the organization normally includes an emergency assistance program for utilities, rent and medicine; two thrift stores and a thrift store warehouse; one of the largest food pantries in Central Texas; and a Case Management program. In March, Caritas reorganized its services, implementing a drive-through food pantry, in order to meet the soaring need and keep its staff and clients safe. The number of people coming to the pantry for food (formerly more than 100 families a day) more than doubled and continues to increase. (For information and updates, call 254-753-4593, go to www.caritas-waco.org, or check the Caritas Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/caritasofwaco.)

The international beneficiary is Church World Service (CWS), the relief and development organization that sponsors CROP Hunger Walks. In an effort to fight hunger and build healthier communities, CWS provides clean water and hygiene training in Vietnam, combats droughts in Nicaragua, and stocks shelves in hundreds of food pantries across the United States. Hundreds of CWS workers are responding in creative ways to COVID-related crises all over the world.

It’s easy to sign up and donate to our walk.  Go to https://www.crophungerwalk.org/wacotx and click “register” or “donate.” You and your team members can make donations by credit card and or PayPal, and a receipt will be sent through email for tax purposes.  Once you sign up, we will send you a link to the Nov. 15 celebration.